Pakistan brush off Canadian challenge

EASY WIN: The victory takes Pakistan to four points after drawing their first game.

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Keywords: Canada, Win

Ipoh (Malaysia): Two first-half goals powered Pakistan to a comfortable victory over lowly Canada in a group B match of the 16th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament on Tuesday.

The Pakistanis were rarely in trouble, especially after Shabbir Khan deflected home an Akhtar Ali reverse hit in the fourth minute. Ali then came up with a brilliant solo run in the 33rd minute and capped it with a carpet shot to the boards for the second goal that effectively killed the Canadian challenge.

The victory, their first in two matches following a draw with Malaysia, took Pakistan to four points while the Canadians completed their league engagements without a win.

The closest Canada came to scoring was in the 67th when Anthony Wright got a touch to Wayne Fernandes cross, but the ball struck the upright and rebounded into play.

For the best part of the game, the Canadians were pegged inside their own half, but the Pakistani finish was simply woeful with the forwards repeatedly penetrating into the circle only to get it all wrong.

The Pakistanis wasted five penalty corners as all their attempts were easily parried.